BJP lawmakers Rudy, Hema Malini flay Tourism Ministry slackness

New Delhi, Jul 8: Much to the chagrin of the ruling side, BJP lawmaker from Bihar and a former Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Monday expressed his displeasure that no fund was being provided to the state of Bihar under eco tourism projects.

With regard the functioning of the tourism projects, Mathura MP and another BJP lawmaker Hema Malini also supported Mr Rudy's contentions and said nothing much happened during last five years in UP as well vis-a-vis tour and travel industry works. Asking supplementary queries during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha, Mr Rudy said the Bihar project has been pending for last three years and wondered why he is made to move from pillar to the post on the same.

At one point, he even said "if somebody is misleading" it will be a matter of privilege and said he would submit papers in the House to substantiate his observation. Union Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel said it is a matter of fact that the tourism projects can be cleared only when there is a clear cut proposal from the state government.

"There is no DPR...and what we have in hand in only a normal letter," Mr Patel said. He maintained that the eco tourism and other such projects are in implementation level since 2015-16, but a project can be taken up or given green signal only when there is a formal proposal from the state.

Mr Rudy especially maintained that funds should be provided for Sonepur mela and also that a project for restoring Dolphins should be taken up in his constituency. (UNI)